Archive of Our Own ^beta

A Thunderstorm hits Nevermore. 

It was unusual, Nevermore only experienced rain pour here and there, but for some unexplainable reason, the rain earlier poured harder and the winds became stronger. 

Eugene was stressed all night. He thought the beehives would be safe, since the rain was not that serious earlier, he was too complacent. The shed survived a lot of rain, even the pet zombie Pugsley kept. He was pacing around his shared dorm room with Pugsley, walking back and forth and nervously looking at the window if the rain stopped pouring.

“They're okay right? I mean the shed will protect them long enough and if the storm stops, I’ll take them in. That’s okay with you right?” Eugene asked Pugsley, as he planned to take the beehives and put them in their short dormitory temporarily. 

Pugsley just nodded, he was sitting on the bed feeling angry and disappointed that he could not even help Eugene with his problem. 

Earlier, the class starts normally, some students enjoy the gloomy and cold weather, and students go on. However, Afternoon drops, and the rain becomes heavier and the winds become stronger. The school asked the students to keep within the campus, as the weather is deemed dangerous for wandering around the school guards.

Eugene begged and begged Ajax to let him go out and save his beehives, but Ajax apologized as he could not do that. It’s too dangerous for him to go out, the forest is now in zero visibility, and even Eugene knows the way by heart, it would be too dangerous for him to go out.

Pugsley’s heart sank, seeing Eugene laying on his bed, facing the wall. Pugsley knew he was crying, to make things better he brought Eugene his favorite dinner, thinking it would lighten the mood but Eugene didn’t bother to answer, he just said he was not hungry. 

Pugsley can’t stand doing nothing.

= 

It wasn’t that hard to sneak out on Ajax. Pugsley felt like he was sneaking out with a 3-year old guarding the hallway. He easily sneak out, passing Ajax who is visibly attached to his phone, clutching a roll of tarpaulin his father gifted him.

Gomez said a handful of tarpaulin is always helpful to unexpected murder, Pugsley did not realize it until he needed it today.

Pugsley slipped out of the gate, the rain came down in sheets, almost sting for his skin, the wind was stronger than he thought, and Ajax was right, there is almost no visibility on the ground. Pugsley could swear he saw lightning hit a tree not far from him, making him nervous if he could survive this.

But the idea of Eugene… worried sick upstairs and too upset, motivated Pugsley enough to carry with his plan. 

Pugsley tried his best to avoid every possible lighting that might hit him, grinning each time he narrowly avoided a fried Addams. By the time he reached the shed where Eugene kept his children safely, he was soaking wet and mud clung to his booths, yet he still managed to wrestle the tarp into place, covering the shed and pinning it down with whatever stones or half-broken debris he could find.

Inside, the bees were stirred angrily, some were anxious and in distress, why others curl inside the beehive more. Pugsley crouched beside the hive, checking if the bees are still in tact or safe.

"easy now, don't sting me, and I promise not to eat any of you tonight." Pugsley warned, but the buzzing grew louder. "Yeah, yeah I know. Eugene treats you like his kids."

Pugsley saw the one plump worker bee hungrily, but the thought of Eugene horrified glare if he found out that Pugsley snacked on one of his bees again is not worth it. The mix of betrayal and heartbreak Eugene will feel if he found out made Pugsley sigh and step back. Eating one would be delicious, Uncle Fester said so BUT the disguise look from Eugene IS NOT worth it.

He wrapped the last corner of tarp down, making sure no matter how the winds howl, the shed will be safe from destruction.

Pugsley has been gone too long, Eugene may start looking for him. He gave the bees one look, ensuring they are safe. He allowed himself a breath of satisfaction, but as he took back towards Nevermore, the rains pour even harder and the violent winds shoved him sideways.

Pugsley thought he would be able to go back on his own, but the forest soil become too soft, his boot slip on the mud and his foot caught on a jagged stone. Unexpectedly, Pugsley's head struck the ground with a sickening crack.

Everything goes black, after that.

=

Eugene felt bad. After rejecting Pugsley who is only there to help him and soothe him, he lashed out and ignored the other boy. When he turned his back, Pugsley was no longer in the room, but the food was still there, sitting on their shared desk. 

“Pugs?” Eugene called, thinking Pugsley might just be hiding, snacking on his pets. When Pugsley did not replied, he left the room and looked around the hallway.

“Ajax? Have you seen Pugsley?” Ajax, startled and dropped his phone from doom scrolling frighten. 

“No, I did not see anyone passed through the walls. Why? Is he not in the room?” 

Annoyed, Eugene rolled his eyes. Of course, Ajax will not be able to see anyone passed down the hall because he was glued to his phone all night! 

“No, he’s missing.” 

Ajax and Eugene knocked door to door, checking if Pugsley was there, staying with some friends.

“Ajax, I’m nervous. Where is he?” 

“Don’t worry, we will find him.” 

Little by little, everyone in the Caliban Hall helped Ajax and Eugene to help Pugsley, even the students from Thisbe Hall starts to help too, but no Pugsley was ever found. 

Anxious, Eugene went to the one he knew could help him.

Eugene stormed into the Ophelia Hall, searching for Wednesday and Enid's room. He open the door, frightening Enid, his voice breaking with panic. "Wednesday, Pugsley is missing!"

Eugene stepped inside, walking by and forth. "we searched and checked everywhere, he's not in the dorms, not even in the halls-"

Wednesday did not say another word, she seized Eugene by the wrist and marched out. Wednesday did not ask for more questions, the last time Pugsley was gone a psychopath lunatic wanted to kill her brother.

"Are you sure he is missing? not buried somewhere?" Wednesday asked.

"yes!" Wednesday believed him immediately. She knows the boy well, there could only be two reasons why Eugene is panicking, 1. Someone harm his bugs and 2. Pugsley is in trouble again.

Wednesday and Eugene arrived at their parents' apartment near Nevermore, opening the door without a knock.

"Mother, Father" Wednesday called for her parents. "Have you seen Pugsley?"

Morticia's expression darkened, "No, he was not here. Why do you ask?" she closed the book she was reading, and quickly took a glance to her husband, Gomez who was equally worried.

Wednesday turned back to Eugene, her stare sharp enough to frighten the other boy. "Think carefully Eugene, what idiotic, life-threatening stunt would my feeble minded brother do to impress you?"

"Impress me? Why would he do something like that!"

"Think Eugene, think!" Wednesday yelled.

Eugene's mouth opened, closed, then opened again.. His heart raced, he hope Pugsley will not do something like that, but the answer flashed before his eyes- the hives. 

Eugene only murmured the bees, and without thinking clearly he rushed to the forest immediately, bolted into the rain not caring how strong and cold it is. He barely heard what Wednesday said, but he know Lurch appeared beside him almost silently.

Lurch ran with Eugene, the rain lashing at their faces. Eugene struggles, as his vision became blurry because of the fog from his glasses.

Near the shed, Eugene saw Pugsley laying on the ground with a bloody forehead. Eugene froze, his heart sunk and he almost passed out upon seeing Pugsley like that. 

"Pugsley!" He shouted, he removed a branch of a tree that fell to Pugsley and he tried to carry him, but he failed. Lurch stepped forward, carried Pugsley with ease.

The shed, battered but mostly intact beneath its tarpaulin, stood securely thanks to Pugsley's stubborn courage. With Lurch carrying Pugsley, they sprinted back towards Nevermore, the storm still raging but Eugene could finally breathe properly.

=

Pugsley's eyes flickered open, the harsh white light feels like it was stabbing his temples, making his head ache. A gentle hand shielded him from the brightness, soft and steady. He tried to sit up, but his entire body protested, still sore and stiff. The sharp pain in his forehead made Pugsley realized he was recently receive an ugly stitch.

his vision was still blurry but he blinked against the light. Relief wash over him as he saw Eugene there, sitting on the chair and looking at him. A small exhausted smile tugged at Pugsley's lips.

Eugene, however was not happy. In fact, he hadn't sleep in days, dark bags under his eyes and his hair was untamed.

"Hey" Pugsley said.

Eugene's composure finally broke. The tears he was holding for days finally bottled him up. He Grab Pugsley's shoulders and shaking him. "You idiot!" he said, his voice cracked. "What were you thinking!"

Instead of expressing the pain, Pugsley find it more... endearing that it was Eugene who was sitting beside his bed. Pugsley held Eugene's wrist, and slowly wiped off the tears from his cheeks.

"You really do worry a lot you know that?"

"You were sleeping for days." Eugene said, his tone was laced with pure sadness.

"Well, at least the bees are safe." Pugsley said. "They.... they are safe right?"

Even from his own pain, Pugsley still prioritized Eugene.

"yes they are. The tarp you put helped the shed a lot."

"I'm glad to hear that."

They were silence for a while, until Eugene cried again.

"hey, hey I'm okay." Pugsley in a panic, forgot that his body was still sore. He forced himself to sit up, comforting Eugene. "Believe me, Wednesday used to bury me in the cemetery. This? it did not hurt me at all."

"I thought I lost you, you lunatic." Eugene whispered.

"This lunatic who saved the bees?" Pugsley said, pointing at himself, trying to lighten up the mood.

"I know, I just wished you didn't do it alone- I would've helped-"

"And do what?" Pugsley chuckled. "hide behind Lurch?"

"maybe" Eugene laughed. "I counted the bees, so far they are completed."

Pugsley froze. "I rather go through another storm rather than face your wrath."

"good. Just... just stay alive okay? That's all I ask."

Pugsley moved, inviting Eugene to sit with him on the bed. "Fine, but only because you're here." 

There were so many unspoken words, left unsaid. Eugene just lay there, hugging Pugsley, letting his actions speaks louder.